Chapter 43

                  Elrohir felt someone shaking his shoulder.  He opened his eyes groggily.

                  " Elladan."  He groaned before turning over, pulling the cover over his head.  " Leave me alone."

A soft breath came on his neck.

                  " Tis not Elladan that seeks an audience with you, Elrohir."

Elrohir shot up into a sitting position.  He noted that his brother's bed was empty as he glanced up at Kalaina.

                  " It is nearly midnight."  Elrohir yawned.  " Can this not wait for morning?"

Kalaina shook her head.

                  " I have chosen tonight.  Grab your bow and come with me."

Elrohir sighed.

                  " Boots?"

Kalaina nearly rolled her eyes.  She picked them up from beside the door and threw them to him.

                  " Now get a move on.  We only have a small window of time."

~*~

                  Elladan bit his lip as he struggled to fasten the knot.  His fingers were wet and cold from the rain that fell.  Legolas leaned over, motioning for Elladan to let him try.  Elladan moved away with a groan.

                  " What has your sister planned?"

Legolas only shrugged.

                  " She only did this once to me, so I can barely begin to guess what she has thought up."

                  " You were like Elrohir?"  Elladan's voice relayed its doubts.

                  Legolas shrugged, with a small semblance of a chuckle. 

                  " Aye, I was once a cocky Prince.  I was the best in Mirkwood.  It gave me reason to be such."

                  " Then your mother died?"

Legolas nodded.

                  " Aye."  His answer was barely a whisper.  " And my father has purged away her very essence from the caves."

                  Elladan leaned back.

                  " I have never lost anyone, so I cannot sympathize or comfort."

Legolas looked up.

                  " And I thank you for not trying to."

Elladan nodded before quickly pointing at the two Elves approaching.  Legolas and Elladan disappeared into the shadows.

~*~

                  " Move over."

Elrond gave his wife a hard look, but nevertheless moved over a bit.  The two had followed Elladan and Legolas.

*Hervess, quiet.  They may hear us and then it is shot.

Celebrían rolled her eyes, before a smile lit her face.

*I cannot wait to see this.

Elrond could not stop a smile at her exuberance.

~*~

                  Elrohir saw the target put up and sighed.

                  " Kalaina, it is folly for you to try and beat me."

Kalaina looked taken aback for a moment.

                  " And pray tell why?"

Elrohir shrugged.

                  " I am yet to be beat.  I even beat your little brother today."

Kalaina sent him a smile.

                  " But even Legolas has yet to beat me."

                  Elrohir regarded her doubtfully for a moment.  He clucked his tongue before shrugging.

                  " Fine, where are we shooting from?"

He began to walk back, glancing at the target set up.  Kalaina tugged on his wet collar, peering up at him through the drizzle of rain.

                  " The target is not for us to shoot at.  It is the mark where to shoot from, dear prince."

                  Elrohir crossed his arms.

                  " I suspect you have accomplices with this?"

Kalaina smiled.

                  " Tis a wonder what I can do."  She pointed into the tree.  " They insisted on having the best seats to watch."

Elrohir glared at his broadly grinning brother and Legolas.

                  " I should have known," he muttered.

Elrohir pushed back his wet hair.  Kalaina's eyebrows rose slightly.  Elladan leaned over to Legolas.

                  " Seems as if the feelings are mutual between them."

                  " Come on, Elrohir.  I think you might at least have a chance."

Elrohir straightened, picking up his bow with a straight face.

                  " Lady, you will sorely regret those words."

Kalaina fisted his collar, brining his face close to hers.

                  " You will address me as Princess."

~*~

                  Celebrían shifted with an impatient look.  Elrond glanced down at her with a wary eye.  It turned to worry when he noted her discomfort.  Celebrían noticed his gaze and shook her head.

*I am fine.  Tis child is merely dancing up a storm.

Elrond nodded before shaking his head.

*Tell the child to keep the dancing to a low rumble else they may learn of our spying.

~*~

                  Elrohir's eyes zoned in on the leaf Kalaina had chosen as the target.  He frowned slightly, a crease in his flawless brow forming.

*She had to pick the smallest leaf that can be found here in Imladris.

Kalaina shifted impatiently.

                  " Stop stalling, Elrohir."

He merely glanced at her coolly.

                  " Patience, Princess."

~*~

                  Legolas nudged Elladan.  Elladan glanced over, watching the young Elf glance over his shoulder again.  Elladan raised his eyebrows, his attention half fixed on the bantering below.

                  " Hmm?"

Legolas shrugged.

                  " It is not important."

Elladan tore himself away when Legolas glanced back again.

                  " What is it?"

An impish smile covered Legolas' face.

                  " The lord and lady of Imladris crouch like spies in the bushes there."

Elladan's eyes widened before he too grinned.  He leaned over.         

                  " Where?"

~*~

                  Elrohir took careful aim, praying his eyes would be true.  The twang of the bowstring echoed amidst the pitter-pattering of rain.  Kalaina's sharp eyes followed the arrow.  It grazed the underside…of a leaf a millimeter above the target.  Elrohir pressed his lips together silently, squinting with a deep frown.

*I cannot believe I missed.

~*~

                  Elrond glanced down at his throbbing hand.  Celebrían had been clutching it so anxiously, he was surprised he could still feel it.

*Can you please release my hand, Hervess?

Celebrían lessened her tourniquet hold just a bit.  Elrond grimacedand then focused his attention on Kalaina.  It was then that he and Celebrían noted a pair of boots in front of them.  The two both slowly looked up to find their eldest looking down at them with an amused smile.

                  " Fancy seeing you two here?  Looking for a new herb, Ada?"  Elladan raised an eyebrow.

Elrond stood with a small shrug.

                  " Ok, you caught us red-handed."

~*~

                  Kalaina turned from watching the elder lord and lady come to join her brother and the twins.  She took quick aim and hit the leaf, dead-on.  She glanced back at the stony Elrohir.

                  " You lost."

                  " Tell me something I am not aware of."  Elrohir snapped.

Elrond cleared his throat with disapproval.  Elrohir glanced back, catching his father's pointed glance.  The younger twin's eyes slid to his mother and stopped.

                  " Nana?"  Both Elrohir and Elladan stepped forward worriedly.

Celebrían clung to her husband with a pale face.  She managed a small grimace.

                  " I know now why it was dancing up such a storm."

With a quickness they had never seen, Elrond swept her up and sprinted off.  The twins took off after their parents.  Elrohir jostled his brother.

*If you were not my brother and I was not an Elf, I could possibly hate you.

Elladan shrugged.

*But you do not.  I can read you better than anyone.

Elrohir's mouth tightened.

                  " It is certainly not my fault I lost."

Elladan just raised an eyebrow.

*Well, it was your mouth that put you in such a bind.

~*~

                  Elrond gently lay his wife on the bed in the nearest healing room he could find.  He gently brushed her face comfortingly.

                  " This one is anxious to arrive."

Celebrían strained to smile.

                  " I hope its arrival is quick."

~*~

                  Elladan paced in front of the room, oblivious to all else.  Elrohir sat, head in his hands, distress evident on his face.  Elladan fell to sit beside Elrohir with a loud grumble.

                  " We have been here since morning yesterday.  Why is it taking so long?"  Elladan stood again.  " Where are Daernana and Daeradar?"

Elrohir shrugged, amused somewhat by his normally aloof brother's worry.  Distress set back in as Elrohir leaned back.

                  " They will be here.  Ada is in there.  There is nothing to worry about."

~*~

                  Elrond drew in a long breath.  He squeezed his wife's hand encouragingly, trying to ignore the deathly pallor of her already pale skin.  He stood.

                  " I will return momentarily."

                  " Elrond?"  Celebrían whimpered, coming from her pain-induced haze.

He knelt back down beside her, a gentle look on his face as his eyes ran over her.  Celebrían took his hand anxiously, pain deep in her eyes.  Elrond ignored the watching Celebrisse, tenderly stroking her cheek.

*You shall not even know I am gone.  I promise.

Celebrían held onto his hand for a moment longer before releasing it and watching him go.

~*~

                  The twins leapt towards their father as soon as he exited.  He seemed so tired and burdened.

                  " Well?"  Elrohir asked, searching his father's eyes.

Elrond ran a hand over the back of his neck, ignoring Elrohir.

                  " Elladan, your studies are surely past herbal remedies, am I correct?"

Elladan nodded, unsure of the reason for the question.

                  " Yes, Ada.  May I inquire why?"

Elrond waved a hand.

                  " My mind is muddled.  I need the root to accelerate the delivery."  Elrond said, more sharply than he intended.

                  Elladan nodded.

                  " If I am allowed entry, I can mix that potion."

Elrond motioned for his son to follow.

                  " Only Celebrisse is inside, so you may get your first birthing experience with your own sibling."

Elladan just nodded, his face a blank mask.

                  " How bad is it, Ada?  I doubt it is your mind that is muddled.  You seem anxious and worried."

Elrond sighed, pausing at the door, blinking harshly.

                  " This child shall be the grief of me."